"BREAK TIME POSER"
Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 5:02 am
My Labrador pup, TTF CRAIGHORN KIFFIN TRAD takes a wee break during a pigeon shoot we did last Saturday taking a few over 200 birds. NEVER really "off the job", TRAD sneaks a sniff of bird scent during a lull. At 8 months, TRAD is nearly fully gunfire conditioned and was very tolerant of constant pounding of 12 and 20 guage reports as pigeons were shot on the wing, TRAD showing no aversion to the sound. He has been slowly and properly conditioned to incrementally louder and closer gunfire over a period of months.
Having dropped some birds in high and heavy grassland cover, TRAD was allowed to "HUNT DEAD" on four occasions for dead birds and went 4 /4 as he worked the birds based soley in on his scenting ability. As each bird was located and picked up, TRAD was recalled to my side with 3 peeps on my whistle where he came to "HEEL and SIT" while holding the bird until issued the command "GIVE" when gently presented the bird to hand.
Likely this will be TRAD'S last opportunity to "HUNT DEAD" for some time, that being until he has been fully taught 3 hand casting / handling to blind retrieves, this being to prevent the potential for rogue independence. Rather, TRAD will be continually trained as a rock steady, non-slip retriever. Once those skill sets are firmly entrenched, we will move on to and add upland bird hunting skills inclusive of sit to wing and shot.
All in all, TRAD'S training has gone incredibly well to date and he has an amazing amount of potential.
Cheers,
IRISHWHISTLER
Having dropped some birds in high and heavy grassland cover, TRAD was allowed to "HUNT DEAD" on four occasions for dead birds and went 4 /4 as he worked the birds based soley in on his scenting ability. As each bird was located and picked up, TRAD was recalled to my side with 3 peeps on my whistle where he came to "HEEL and SIT" while holding the bird until issued the command "GIVE" when gently presented the bird to hand.
Likely this will be TRAD'S last opportunity to "HUNT DEAD" for some time, that being until he has been fully taught 3 hand casting / handling to blind retrieves, this being to prevent the potential for rogue independence. Rather, TRAD will be continually trained as a rock steady, non-slip retriever. Once those skill sets are firmly entrenched, we will move on to and add upland bird hunting skills inclusive of sit to wing and shot.
All in all, TRAD'S training has gone incredibly well to date and he has an amazing amount of potential.
Cheers,
IRISHWHISTLER
Let's just say it was on a privately owned farmland with a large dairy herd and an even larger population of nuisance pigeons. Er, a , um- well they did. 
